(Stafford Springs, CT)---When the Tech Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST Auto Parts takes the green flag on Sunday, April 27th, CARQUEST Auto Parts will kick off its 23rd consecutive season as a Stafford Motor Speedway track partner. CARQUEST Auto Parts will return as a track contingency partner, and will offer $375 each Friday night in contingency bonus money, with $150 to each SK Modified® feature winner, $125 to each Late Model feature winner, and $100 to each Limited Late Model feature winner.

With 22 events scheduled for the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season, CARQUEST Auto Parts will pay out $8,250 to SMS competitors during the upcoming season. The $8,250 that will be paid out to SMS feature winners will push CARQUEST Auto Parts' total contribution to the SMS Contingency Program to over $50,000 since their initial contingency partnership during the 1999 season.

"We're pleased to be returning to Stafford for our 23rd season of racing," stated Rich Pallai, Vice President of Marketing for CARQUEST Auto Parts. "The Stafford contingency program is another avenue for us to support Stafford and its competitors."

The CARQUEST Auto Parts / Stafford Speedway relationship continues to grow by leaps and bounds. CARQUEST Auto Parts first came on board with SMS as a track sponsor during the 1985 season. Today, CARQUEST Auto Parts is Stafford's largest corporate partner. CARQUEST, and its nearly 4,000 stores nationwide, have been instrumental in returning the Modified Tour to Stafford along with bringing the ISMA Supermodifieds to Stafford with the open wheel CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday event. CARQUEST Auto Parts is currently the title sponsor of the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, the CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend, CARQUEST Dealer Night, CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday, and new for the 2008 season, the CARQUEST SK 150.

"We're happy to have CARQUEST Auto Parts back as a track partner for the 2008 season," said Stafford CEO and General Manager Mark Arute. "We've certainly been blessed to have the long association with CARQUEST that we've had over the past 22 years. The track, the competitors, and the fans all benefit from CARQUEST's involvement. CARQUEST is helping us bring back the SK 150 this season, which is yet another premier event in what has become a long line of premier events that CARQUEST has brought to the SMS calendar."

CARQUEST Auto Parts began in 1974 with 100 auto parts stores. They have since grown to nearly 4,000 stores nationwide, and through their growth they have remained committed to providing auto parts and services of the highest quality and greatest value to its customers.

The 37th annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST will kick off the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season at Stafford April 25-27. Tickets for "The Greatest Race in the History of Spring" are now on sale at the Stafford Motor Speedway box office. Tickets are priced at $35.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, $38.00 for reserved seats, and free for children ages 5 & under. Tickets are good for admission to the Saturday April 26, and Sunday, April 27 portions of the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, with the Friday, April 25 practice session open the public free of charge.

For more information about CARQUEST Auto Parts Stores or Tech-Net Professional Auto Service, go to www.CARQUEST.com.